Race competitors conquer the clouds

MEDALLISTS . . . Nicola White congratulates, from left, winner Bruno Lema, runner-up Jan Pichl and Rob James, third

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RUNNERS from around the country pushed their bodies to the limit as they battled the elements in the Oldham Half Marathon.

Billed as one of the hardest tracks across the country, the last of the Milltown Marathons saw runners run up and down 13 miles of gruelling hills on a wet and windy Sunday morning.

Starting from the town centre at 9.30am, the track saw competitors travel up to Saddleworth and across the exposed moorland of the Peak District National Park before returning via Grasscroft, Lydgate, Lees and the Glodwick area of Oldham.

Nicola White, Olympic gold medallist for Team GB's hockey team, and Mayor of Oldham Derek Heffernan were on hand showing their support and welcoming runners across the finish line.

Bruno Lima crossed the finish line first with a time of 1.16 dead on followed by Jan Pichl on 1.16.22 and Rob James on 1.17.35.

Jen Bloor was the first woman to complete the race with a time of 1.32.57.

Mayor Derek Heffernan said: "This event has been a part of Oldham for quite a few years now.

"We do encourage people to come here to do the half marathon from across the country and the runners who come here say that it is one of the toughest half marathons in the UK.

He said: "I think we should be very proud of our runners, it seems as though the rain may have stopped here in the centre but on the hills it was throwing it down which makes it much tougher for the runners."

Nicola White, who helped set the marathon up, said: "It is really good to be back here in the town centre, it has been quite a while.

"I got asked to help set it up and it's good to encourage things like this and I'm proud of all the runners who are raising funds for a good cause.

She added: "We're quite sheltered here in the town centre but I do feel for all the runners because out there on the hills they will be more exposed.

"But it makes it more of an achievement, whenever I train and you do it in elements like this it makes you think that you can do it any time."

Bruno Lima admitted that the marathon was a tough challenge but praised the organisation of the event and the traffic wardens who made the run safer and easier.

Jen Bloor said: "It's tough because you go up hill down hill, up hill down hill.

"There isn't any between and it was chucking it down ­but to be fair it means it wasn't too warm."

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